Railroad-switch stand.



No.' 643,88I. Patented Feb.. 2o, |900.

W. McCAFFERY. RAlLnoAn swlTcH STAND.

catxon led .Tune 21, 18

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v WILLIAM MOCAFFERY, OF TYLER, W'ASI'IINGTON.

RAILROAD-SWITCH STAND.

SPEOIFICATXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,881, dated February20, 1900.

Application led June 21, 1899. Serial No. 721,324. (No model.)

To all wwn t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MCCAEEERY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tyler, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad SwitchStands; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in railway-switch stands, and moreparticularly to the lock mechanism for locking the switchlever in thestand.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, andefficient device whereby the switch handle or lever may be freelymanipulated during the operation of switchingv and when the latter iscompleted the lever or handle locked in the switch-stand in a simple andeffective manner.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of constructionand combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective detail view of the upperportion of a switchstand embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail viewof the switch lever and lock with a portion of the lever and lock-casebroken away to show the lock mechanism.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in both figuresof the drawings.

1 denotes the switch stand, and 2 the notched cap-plate in whichtheswitch-actuating shaft is mounted; .and 3 represents the arm xed to saidshaft and in which the switch-lever 4 is fulcrumed, and when the latteris extended horizontally the switch may be thrown to the right or leftin the usual manner. l

5 and 6 denote the retaining-notches in the cap-plate to receive thelever 4 when in a vertical position to lock the switch, and this leveris provided with a spring-lock 7, the bolt 8 of which is adapted toengage either of the keepers 9 or 10, fixed in the contiguous walls ofthe notched portion of the cap-plate. The lock-bolt is provided with astud 12, which when said bolt is retracted projects into the path of ahook 13, xed on a shaft 14, extending through the switch-lever and Yterminating in a plate or arm 15, by means of which the shaft and hookmay be conveniently manipulated.

When the brakeman is required to manipulate the switch, he first unlocksthe switchlever by inserting a key in the lock and retraeting the bolt,and while the bolt is retracted he then throws the plate or arm 15`upwardly, thus causing the hook 13 to engage the stud-pin 12 and retainthe bolt in its retracted position. The lever may now be raised to thehorizontal position and the switch thrown in either position and thelever then dropped into its appropriate notch without the -lock boltcatching, and after the switch has been thrown for the last time thetrainman has only to push the plate or arm 15 downward to release thebolt and lock the lever in the top plate.

Of course it will be understood that the use of the device is notconfined to a switchstand, as it is evident that it is equally efficientas applied to the levers used for manipulating semaphores, targets, andother mechanism of an analogous character.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with the notched switchhead and the pivotedswitch-lever, of alocking device carried by the switch-lever andcomprising the lock-bolt 8 and its stud 12, the shaft 14 and its hook 13projecting into the path of the stud, and the plate 15 fixed to theouter end of said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM MCCAFFERY.

Witnesses:

L. J. MCKINNEY, LS. CLARK.

